Liquefied gas storage and dispensing apparatus



July 6, 1943. J. T. GREGORY 2,323,763

- LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1941 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVENTOR. (/o/m T Gregory July 6, 1943.

J. T. GREGORY LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE AND DISI ENSING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1941 5 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7 fineya/ y 5 ATTORNEY.

t. 51., a Q 9 \Q X, w M 4 J w 2 32? 25: a :5? T- 3:? E K M July 6, 1943. J. T. GREGORY 2,323,763

LIQUEFI ED GAS STORAGE AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 31 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 0h 7T Gregory k iTTOlP/VEY.

Patented July 6, 1943 s We OFFICE LKQUEFIED ass s'roasoa AND DISPENSING arraaa'rus 2 Claims.

This invention relates to liquefied gas storage and dispensing apparatus and particularly, that type ofequipment provided with astorage tank for liquefied gas that is usually buried below the surface of the earth where heat exchange occurs to convert thegas from a liquid to a vapor state.

One of the important aims of this invention is to provide a system of the aforementioned'character wherein is established, separate means for filling the storage tank and for removing vapors therefrom, which means are not interconnected except through the medium of the storage tank per se, to the end that the necessity of closing the outlet valve during the time the tank is being filled with liquid is eliminated and further, to prevent lay-passing of liquid from the filler valve to the outlet valve while the tank is being filled.

A further aim of this invention is to provide in a liquefied gas storage and dispensing apparatus, a uniquearrangement of parts with special regard to the pressure regulator, that is disposed in a horizontal position immediately adjacent to the top of the tankand at the lowermost point in the protecting hood, where freezing of moisture that might enter the regulator from the atmosphere, is prevented and therefore, injury or rendering the regulator inoperative is prevented.

A. yet further object of this invention is to provide a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system with a specially formed hood wherein is dis-= posed all of the filling and dispensing apparatus that includes a pressure regulator and from which regulator is extended a vent that passes through a perforated cover of the hood, to the end that such gas as is vented will not collect within the hood, but will be ejected directly to the atmosphere to prevent such accidents as might arise from gas collecting within the hood.

It has heretofore been customary to vent the pressure regulator so that any escaping butane gas would settle and remain within the hood of the apparatus, thus establishing the possibility of an explosion. in the event an open flame were brought near to, or carried into the hood. Such outside venting as contemplated by this invenfrom the tank toward the regulator, is caused to flow by gravity to a zone beyond that where freezing can occur to clog the connections and render impossible the normal flow of gas.

position of the lowermost end of dip tube automatically determines the level of the liquefied gas when the tank is being filled.

Other objects of the invention and additional points of advantages arising from the employment of a system having but two stand pipes arising from. the storage tank, will appear during the course of the following specification referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a liquefied gas storage and dispensing apparatus made in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged condensed fragmentary v, vertical sectional view taken on line 1V IV of tion is therefore necessary to the safe operation Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view of the lower portion of the liquid level gauge mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is another view of said mechanism.

In the drawings like reference characters are employed to designate similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 10 is a storage tank adapted to be buried in the earth below the frost line thereof, whereby liquefied gas therein may be brought into heat exchanging relation with said earth. Thistank i0 is provided with fitting l2 whereby the same may be maintained in the proper position during installa In the event the tank needs tobe handled by a derrick or the like, loops II are available at each end respectively thereof.

The double stand pipe feature forming an important phase of this invention, is clearly shown in Fig. l and it will be clear to one skilled in the art, that stand pipe 20, when placed in comrnunication with tank l through suitable means, such as welding or the like, will operatively carry liquid level gauge 22 at the upper end thereof, filler valve 24 to one side of its longitudinal vertical axis, and relief valve 26 at the other side thereof.

Stand pipe 20 is constructed in a practical way by employing a cross at the upper end thereof and by securing filler valve 24 to one branch through the medium of an L 2l-the other branch is directly in connection with relief valve 26.

A pressure gauge 30 is operably Joined to stand pipe 20 by a short pipe section 32, supported byv stand pipe 20.

The dispensing stand pipe 24 is joined to tank ill by welding or other suitable means, and carries at its uppermost end, a T 36 to one branch of which is joined the combination excess fiow and outlet valve 38. This valve is of commercial type and connection 40 joins the same with pressure regulator 42 disposed horizontally in the bottom of protecting hood l6 near the top of tank III. A bracket 44 supports regulator 42 and a service line 46 extends from the regulator to the point of gas consumption. Regulator 42 is equipped with a vent 42 that joins said regulator with the atmosphere and in the instance illustrated, the mouth 50 of vent 46 is above cover 52 of the protecting hood.

Vent 48, extends through registering notches or perforations 4! formed in the overlapped portions of cover 52 and hood i6 as shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to remove cover 52, vent 45 is merelyswung about connection for example, to a position where cover 52 may be lifted.

A vapor equalizing valve 54 on the upper end of and in communication with dip tube 55 is carried by dispensing stand pipe 34, but is not in communication therewith as shown in Fig. 4.

When tank I0 is being filled, the filler tube is placed in connection with filler valve 24 and the exhaust tube is secured to equalizing valve 54 to equalize the pressure between the tank wagon and tank l0. As the level of the liquid in tank I0 rises, float 58 is lifted to operate meshthrough dip tube 56, valve 54 and the tube that is normally in connection therewith during the 4 Letters Patent is:

filling operation.

The positioning of pressure regulator 42 as shown and described, permits the use of a relatively short connection 40, which cannot collect moisture that might pass thereto from within tank In. This short connection 46 is vertically disposed and the action of gravity will move moisture to a zone where the same cannot injure the operation of the system. This is especially important because clogging of horizontally disposed pipes has heretofore rendered the system inoperative.

The advantages arising from the employment of two stand pipes for supporting all of the parts of the system are apparent to one skilled in the art, and besides the simplicity, durability, ruggedness and compactness of parts, the expense of manufacturing a unit of the character described, is reduced over those heretofore known because conventional pipe fittings are used throughout and no special castings, 'stampings or built-up units are needed. 7

Having thus described the-invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by 1. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing apparatus, a storage tank; a pair of stand pipes extending upwardly from and in communication with the tank; filling appliances on one of the stand pipes; a vapor equalizing valve and an outlet valve on the other stand pipe; and a presthe top of the tank at the base of said stand pipes, said vapor equalizing valve having a dip tube in connection therewith extending downwardly through the second mentioned stand pipe to a point within the tank on the maximum level of the liquefied gas therein, the said outlet valve being in communication with the last mentioned stand pipe to withdraw evolved gas from the tank through said stand pipe around the dip ing gears 60 and 62 at the lowermost end of yqke 64. Rod 66 is rotated and the pointer on gauge 22 is thereby moved to visually indicate the level of liquid in tank I0. It is notable here that rod 66 passes upwardly through filling stand pipe 20.

If the tank is accidentally filled to a point above the lower end of dip tube 56, the liquefied gas will not fiow to service line 46 but due to the construction of dispensing stand pipe 34, will merely recirculate back to the tank wagon 2. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing apparatus, a storage tank; a pair of stand pipes extending upwardly from and in communication with the tank at its uppermost part; filling appliances on one of the stand pipes; a dip tube projecting into the tank axially through the other stand pipe, said dip tube being of relatively small diameter whereby to form a space therearound in the said last mentioned stand pipe; a vapor equalizing valve in connection with the tip tube at the top of said stand pipe; an an outlet valve on the side of the last mentione stand pipe in communication with the spec therein, said dip tube having its lower end belo the lower end of the stand pipe wherein it disposed. JOHN T. GREGORY. 

